Ireland’s former president to speak on climate change at Mount Holyoke College March 9

Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland, will speak on climate change as a human rights issue March 9 at 3 p.m. in Mount Holyoke College’s Chapin Auditorium.

Robinson was elected the first woman president of Ireland in 1990 and later served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. She also founded and served as president of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative from 2002 to 2010.

She is author of “Everybody Matters: My Life Giving Voice,” which will be published March 5.

As an academic, legislator and barrister, Robinson has sought to use law as an instrument for social change, arguing landmark cases before the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court in Luxembourg, as well as in Irish courts.

She is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Obama.,

Robinson will sign copies of her book following the lecture.

Robinson, a longtime human rights advocate, leads the Mary Robinson Foundation — Climate Justice, which seeks to secure justice for the world’s often-forgotten people, the poor and disempowered who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.